Ethylene production and signaling in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) pollen grains is responsive to heat stress conditions.

Tomato pollen grains have the capacity for ethylene production, possessing specific components of the ethylene-biosynthesis and -signaling pathways, being affected/responsive to high-temperature conditions. Exposure of plants to heat stress (HS) conditions reduces crop yield and quality, mainly due to sensitivity of pollen grains. Recently, it was demonstrated that ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone, plays a significant role in tomato pollen heat-tolerance.

Ethylene is involved in maintaining tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) pollen quality under heat-stress conditions.

Background And Aims: Exposure to higher-than-optimal temperatures reduces crop yield and quality, mainly due to sensitivity of developing pollen grains. The mechanisms maintaining high pollen quality under heat-stress conditions are poorly understood. Our recently published data indicate high heat-stress-induced expression of ethylene-responsive genes in tomato pollen, indicating ethylene involvement in the pollen heat-stress response.